RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza on alveolar bone metabolism and variation in bone mass in diabetic rats, in order to detect whether it has an inhibitory effect on alveolar bone osteoporosis caused by diabetics.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Intraperitoneal injection of alloxan induced diabetes in rats. After one week of observation and maintenance of stable blood sugar level, they were treated with S. miltiorrhiza. The rats were sacrificed at the eighth week after fasting for 12 h and blood samples were collected for analysis of blood glucose and rate of bone metabolism. Meanwhile, their alveolar bones were collected for determining bone mineral density (BMD) and histological sections were made for histomorphology observation.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Diabetic rats showed varying degrees of abnormality in bone metabolism indicators and significant reduction in bone mineral density. After treatment with S. miltiorrhiza, their symptoms reduced to some extend and all indicators were improved especially bone density.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>S. miltiorrhiza has a certain inhibitory effect on alveolar bone osteoporosis in diabetic rats in early stage.</p>